When teachers use teaching materials or resources, it is geared toward supporting student learning and increase student success. There are many types of teaching resources but they all can support student learning.
Teaching materials can be concrete examples like tools that students can handle or worksheets for students to work on. These can help students so that they can practice their new knowledge. But teaching materials are not necessarily teaching resources. Teaching resources have theoretical and intangible elements. It can include support from other educators or places to find teaching materials.
Student achievement is increased with the use of learning materials and it greatly supports student learning. So, with the use of worksheets, a student has the opportunity to practice new skills gained in class. This can help in the learning process since the student can explore the knowledge on his own and provide repetition.
Lesson planning and delivery of instruction are also part of learning materials. Lesson planning can guide teachers and students, especially in lower grades.
Learning materials also asset teachers in the differentiation of instruction. Differentiation of instruction is the tailoring of lessons and instruction to different learning styles and capacities within your classroom. Learning materials allow you to modify assignments to best activate the learning style of each individual student.
It is not difficult to acquire teaching materials. You can find many resources online. Most of these resources are free. With these resources, your teaching tools can significantly increase. But it is also possible to make your own materials. You will have an asset if you develop your own learning materials. If you invest in teaching materials, then you invest in good teaching.
The main reason for creating your own resource is to meet the needs of students. There are diverse sets of students who are unique and have different levels of ability and understanding. It is essential that you personalize the content your present. This is difficult to do with a set of textbooks and worksheets that are designed to fit the needs of the majority of students in the school sector.
If you create your own supplemental lessons, you can teach the content in a way that you know will work for the students. It then becomes fun to teach the content. Your students will love that you made the resource yourself and they will have a better understanding of the content that you teach.
Sometimes you will be tempted to simply use a worksheet and assign problems out of a book that will keep your students busy. But you can do these things without understanding the curriculum requirements and the content your students need to master by the time they reach the next grade level. ‘
But if you create your own resources, you will have a deeper understanding of the coverage of the lessons. If you have made an interactive resource, then you will know the standards well. If you design a tool, you make it easier for your students to interact with and understand, then you will be forced to break the content down into manageable pieces.